2687

Five months ago…

Ash and Leon were running the final diagnostics on Ash’s armor suit in a dimly lit workshop filled with the hum of machinery. Leon’s fingers danced across the console, reading the data streams flashing before him.

“Ash, the calibrations are set. The suit’s working perfectly now,” Leon said, a note of pride in his voice as he double-checked the numbers. His eyes flicked from the screen to Ash, who was already testing the suit, throwing punches like a professional boxer warming up for a match.

“Good,” Ash grunted, his muscles flexing beneath the sleek metallic armor. His movements were sharper, faster—more powerful. “Now I can finally kill that bitch Luna with it.”

Leon paused, watching Ash with a look of quiet contemplation. His mind raced with questions, but one in particular bubbled to the surface. “Ash, can I ask you something?”

Ash stopped mid-punch and turned to face Leon, wiping sweat from his brow. “Go ahead.”

“Why did you want me to build this suit in the first place? I mean, what’s driving you?”

For a moment, Ash didn’t answer. He clenched his fists, his gaze distant. Then, his eyes hardened, filled with a resolve Leon hadn’t seen in a long time. “Back then, Adam, Griffin, and your father made a promise,” Ash began, his voice steady. “They swore to protect each other’s families if any of them fell in this war. I was part of that promise too.”

Leon blinked, surprised by the depth in Ash’s words. “I didn’t know that. So you’re carrying on their promise?”

Ash nodded, his expression darkening. “I see the war around us, Leon. People are dying left and right. Friends, family… everyone. I’ve lost too many, and I know you’ve felt it too. The suit… it’s more than just armor to me. It’s a way to honor them—to fight for everyone who’s died in this war!” His voice boomed through the room, echoing the intensity of his emotions.

Leon stood silent for a moment, understanding now. This wasn’t just about power—it was about something bigger, something personal.

Present Time…

Ash stood still, his muscles tensing as his suit hummed with energy. The suit’s vibrations increased, reverberating through his body like an engine revving up for maximum output. Shadow stood a few feet away, his eyes narrowing as he sensed the shift in the atmosphere.

“What the hell is happening?” Shadow muttered under his breath. His eyes darted around, trying to make sense of Ash’s sudden surge in power.

Then, without warning, Ash’s body blurred. “Shockwave Style: Krakatoa,” he thought, his movements so fast they defied logic. In a flash, Ash closed the distance between them, his fist crackling with energy.

Shadow’s instincts screamed at him to react, but Ash was too quick. With a speed that shattered the air, Ash unleashed a punch aimed straight for Shadow’s head. At the last possible second, Shadow managed to block, his sickle materializing just in time. But it wasn’t enough.

The shockwave from Ash’s punch exploded outward, the raw force behind it ripping Shadow’s left arm clean off. Shadow’s eyes widened in shock as his body was flung through the air like a ragdoll, slamming into a nearby building with such force that the concrete crumbled beneath him.

Shadow groaned, sprawled out on the debris-strewn ground, his body struggling to regenerate. His breath came in ragged gasps as he clutched his side. “That shockwave… it tore through everything,” he thought, trying to piece together what had just happened. His left arm, or what was left of it, lay in a puddle of blood. “I can’t even regenerate it… the force was too intense. It obliterated everything—even sound.”

Ash, standing a few yards away, remained motionless. His body trembled as blood dripped from his nose and ears, the backlash of his own attack tearing through him like razors. The suit had amplified his power, but at a cost.

“The recoil… it almost killed me,” Ash thought, his vision blurring as he fought to stay upright. His bones felt like they were vibrating under his skin, his muscles screaming for rest. But he wouldn’t stop—not now. “I can’t fall… not here… not yet.” Gritting his teeth, Ash forced his body to keep moving, his resolve the only thing keeping him conscious.

Shadow, still lying in the rubble, slowly pushed himself up. Blood dripped from his lips, and he coughed, a twisted grin forming on his face. His eyes flickered toward the sky.

Ash noticed the shift in his demeanor. “Why the hell are you smiling?” Ash asked, his voice raspy.

Shadow looked up, his grin widening. “It’s finally time!” he yelled, his laughter echoing through the desolate battlefield.

Ash blinked, confused, then followed Shadow’s gaze to the sky. His heart dropped. The solar eclipse had begun. Darkness spread over Japan like a cloak, the shadows lengthening and merging into one. The light faded, and with it, the air grew cold and heavy.

“This fight is over now,” Shadow said, his voice low and dangerous. He raised his hands and formed a symbol. “Hodr Palace.”

In that instant, Shadow’s body began to transform. His clothes, his skin, everything about him shifted into pure darkness. His form twisted and coiled like living shadows, his body becoming one with the encroaching eclipse. His presence felt suffocating, as though he were consuming the very space around him.

Ash’s heart raced, but a part of him smiled. “So, this is what you were hiding.”

Shadow’s voice echoed, distorted as if coming from all directions at once. “You’ve seen nothing yet.” His body flickered in and out of existence, moving with unnatural speed.

Ash braced himself as Shadow charged, his form barely visible as he sped toward him. Ash met him with everything he had, his fists igniting with shockwave energy. The two clashed, their punches colliding with the force of a supernova. The shockwaves rippled through the battlefield, shattering the ground beneath them, and sending debris flying in every direction.

Every punch, every kick was met with equal ferocity. Ash’s body screamed in pain, but he refused to back down. Shadow, now in his shadow form, was even harder to hit—his movements fluid, and unpredictable.

Ash gritted his teeth. “I won’t let you win!” he roared, throwing another punch infused with shockwave energy.

But Shadow vanished, appearing behind Ash in an instant. His shadowy fist collided with Ash’s back, sending him stumbling forward. “You’re too slow,” Shadow whispered, his voice filled with malice.

Ash, gasping for breath, turned to face him. His body ached, but he refused to give in. The real fight had just begun, and neither of them was willing to lose.